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Mitral Valve Prolapse: Children Who Play Sports

Topic Overview

If you have a child with mitral valve prolapse (MVP) and
are concerned about your child playing in sports activities, talk with your
child's doctor.

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that
participation in sports activities be based on the following
guidelines:1

If your child does not have symptoms of
mitral valve regurgitation and the family has no
history of sudden death associated with MVP, your child can likely participate
in sports activities without additional special testing.

If your
child has
palpitations, an irregular heart rhythm (arrhythmia), near-fainting or fainting episodes, or
symptoms of mitral valve regurgitation, he or she needs to be evaluated by a
heart specialist before playing in sports activities. Other testing may be
needed by people who have these symptoms, including a 24-hour ambulatory
electrocardiogram (Holter monitor) and an exercise electrocardiogram.

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